Sunday, August 22, 2010

Looking for good but easy songs to play on my guitar, I came across "Gone" by Jack Johnson. I remember when, according to my sister, his first album, Brushfire Fairytales, was getting lots of play on Boston college radio stations, and he was this wonderful find. Like discovering Tracy Chapman before everyone else did.

That was back in 2001.

After that, I lost track of him. Turns out he’s become a star, spending 2010 on a world tour.

His song “Gone” appeared on his 2003 album On and On, and it appears to have become a signature song for him.

This is how it starts:

Look at all those fancy clothes,But these could keep us warm just like those.And what about your soul? Is it cold?Is it straight from the mold,and ready to be sold?

The song starts out about “us,” but quickly becomes about “you,” and “them,” and not about “me” or “us.” It feels a bit sanctimonious to me, and if I’m going to play it, there will have to be some changes.

So I’ve come up with my own version. Hope you like it, Jack.

Gone (Soon Gone)

Look at all these fancy clothesbut do they keep me warm? Lord knows.What about my soul? Is it cold?Is it straight from the mold andready to be sold?

And cars and phones and diamond rings, bling blingThose are only removable thingsBut what about my mind?Does it shine orare there things that concern me more that my time?

Gone goinggone everythinggone give a damngone be the birdsand now they don't wanna singC'mon people, we'resoon gone with all our thingsgone

Look at us out to make a dealWe try to be appealing but we lose our feel'n' what about those shoes we're in today?They'll do no good on the bridges we burn along the way

Are we willing to sell anything?Gone with our hurtWe all leave footprints, why shame them with our words?C'mon people, no more careless and consumedgone

Gone goinggone everythinggone give a damngone be the birdsand now they don't wanna singC'mon people, we'resoon gone with all our thingsgone.

You can hear him playing the song (his way) below. The accompaniment of Ben Harper on guitar gives the song a softer edge which counters the accusatory tone of the lyrics a bit.

Apparently, the Black Eyed Peas also take umbrage at this song, and have created their own response: “Gone Going.” Some people who watched YouTube videos of this version found this band’s criticism of Jack Johnson pretty ironic. Pots and kettles and all.

P.S. Not everyone agrees that the "Johnny" in the song is Jack Johnson. They say, hey, he's performing in it with them! But the JJ sections are sampled. Whatever ... It's another bling-prone group dumping on those who like bling.

What is this place and why have you brought me here?

Welcome, please have a seat. Here you will find my observations regarding practice and life (or, my practice and my life). Practice, meaning the practice of mindfulness as taught by Buddhist master Thich Nhất Hạnh; life, meaning what happens on and off the cushion, and everywhere in between.